Clinical Evaluation of Fractional Radiofrequency for the Treatment of Acne Scarring

Clinical Evaluation of the Safety and Performance of Fractional Radiofrequency for the Treatment and Reduction of Acne Scarring

Prospective, single centre, evaluator-blind study of the safety and performance of fractional radiofrequency (RF) for the treatment and reduction of acne scarring. The study will evaluate 50 treatment sites in subjects requesting treatment of their acne scarring. The study will involve three treatments on both sides of the face with 3-5 week intervals between each treatment. Subjects will be followed at 6 and 12 weeks after their last treatment. Analysis will be performed on all subjects who receive at least one treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Acne Scars
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Venus Viva

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 25
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Port Orange, Florida, United States, 32127
      • Leavitt Medical Associates of Florida d/b/a Ameriderm Research

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 22 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy, male or female subjects 22 years of age or over who are seeking treatment and reduction of their facial acne scarring.
2. Able to read, understand and voluntarily provide written Informed Consent.
3. Able and willing to comply with the treatment/follow-up schedule and requirements.
4. Women of child-bearing age are required to be using a reliable method of birth control at least 3 months prior to study enrollment and for the duration of the study and have a negative Urine Pregnancy test at baseline.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Implantable defibrillators, cardiac pacemakers, and other metal implants
2. Subjects with any implantable metal device in the treatment area
3. Pacemaker or internal defibrillator, or any other active electrical implant anywhere in the body (e.g. cochlear implant).
4. Permanent implant in the treated area, such as metal plates and screws, or an injected chemical substance.
5. Current or history of any kind of cancer, or pre-malignant moles.
6. Severe concurrent conditions, such as cardiac disorders.
7. Pregnancy or intending to become pregnant during the study and nursing.
8. Impaired immune system due to immunosuppressive diseases, such as AIDS and HIV, or use of immunosuppressive medications.
9. History of diseases stimulated by heat, such as recurrent herpes simplex in the treatment area; may be enrolled only after a prophylactic regime has been followed for 2 weeks or longer prior to enrollment, or according to Investigator's discretion .
10. Poorly controlled endocrine disorders, such as diabetes.
11. Any active condition in the treatment area, such as sores, psoriasis, eczema, and rash.
12. History of skin disorders, such as keloids, abnormal wound healing, as well as very dry and fragile skin.
13. History of bleeding coagulopathies, or use of anticoagulants (excluding daily aspirin).
14. Facial dermabrasion, facial resurfacing, or deep chemical peeling within the last three months, if face is treated.
15. Use of isotretinoin (Accutane®) or other retinoids within six months prior to treatment or as per physician's discretion.
16. Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS, e.g. ibuprofen-containing agents) one week before and after each treatment session.
17. Any surgical procedure in the treatment area within the last six months or before complete healing.
18. Treating over tattoo or permanent makeup.
19. Excessively tanned skin from sun, tanning beds or tanning creams within the last two weeks.
20. As per the practitioner's discretion, refrain from treating any condition which might make it unsafe for the patient.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 80 pin applicator	Device: Venus Viva; The Venus Viva™ fractional RF applicator has been shown in clinical studies to improve various skin conditions related to aging and alter collagen structures such as wrinkles, rhytids and scars. Beginning with the Baseline visit (Visit 1), subjects will receive a total of 3 treatments approximately 3-5 weeks apart. The left and right side of the face will be treated and assessed as independent sites, and the same applicator tip configuration will be used to treat both sides at all 3 treatment visits.
Active Comparator: 160 pin applicator	Device: Venus Viva; The Venus Viva™ fractional RF applicator has been shown in clinical studies to improve various skin conditions related to aging and alter collagen structures such as wrinkles, rhytids and scars. Beginning with the Baseline visit (Visit 1), subjects will receive a total of 3 treatments approximately 3-5 weeks apart. The left and right side of the face will be treated and assessed as independent sites, and the same applicator tip configuration will be used to treat both sides at all 3 treatment visits.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Overall Acne Scar Improvement Assessed by the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) at 12 Weeks.	Evaluate the efficacy of overall facial acne scar improvement assessed live by the Investigator and a subject assessment of facial appearance including the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS). The Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale is a seven-grade subjective test. Three independent evaluators evaluated before and after photographs and graded them for change. Possible responses were (3) Very Much Improved, (2) Much Improved, (1) Improved, (0) No Change, (-1) Worse, (-2) Much Worse, and (-3) Very Much Worse. For reporting of outcomes, the higher the GAIS value, the greater the improvement (Range -3 to 3).	12 Weeks Post-Final Treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Subject Satisfaction	Subjects' assessment of satisfaction with the treatment using a 5 point Subject Satisfaction Scale at 6 Weeks and 12 weeks post-treatment. The Subject Satisfaction Scale is a five-grade subjective test. Participant were asked their satisfaction level post treatment. Possible responses were (4) Very Satisfied, (3) Satisfied, (2) Having No Opinion, (1) Unsatisfied, and (0) Very Unsatisfied.	6 Weeks and 12 Weeks Post- Final Treatment
Subject Scale - Visual Analog Scale for Pain	Subject's assessment of discomfort and pain after treatments as measured by a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS). The Visual Analog Scale is a scale from 0 cm (no pain) and 10 cm (pain as bad as it can be). Possible responses were of 0 to 0.4 cm can be considered (no pain); 0.5 to 4.4 cm (mild pain), 4.5 to 7.4 cm (moderate pain), and 7.5 to 10 cm (severe pain).	12 Weeks Post-Final Treatment
Number of Participants With Treatment-Related Adverse Events [Safety]	Subjects experiencing a treatment-related adverse event (AE) by 12 weeks post-treatment.	Up to 12 Weeks Post-Final Treatment
Subject Scale - 5 Point Scale for Treatment Tolerability	Subject's assessment of treatment tolerability as measured by a 5 point scale. Participant were asked their tolerability level post treatment. Possible scores were; (4) Very Tolerable, (3) Tolerable, (2) Having No Opinion, (1) Intolerable, and (0) Very Intolerable.	12 Weeks Post-Final Treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Venus Concept

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 5, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 22, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): December 22, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 3, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 4, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): December 6, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 23, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2021
• Last Verified: February 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: acne scar; acne scarring; fractional radiofrequency; fractional RF
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Fibrosis; Cicatrix
• Other Study ID Numbers: VI1018

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes